School faces pupil number crisis

A secondary school in Leicestershire is being recommended for closure because of falling pupil numbers.

County council education bosses said there had been a steep drop in the number of pupils going to King Edward VII College in Melton Mowbray.

They are suggesting that, from 2011, the school becomes a sixth form college. Pupils aged 11 to 16 would be sent to other schools in the town.

This year only 50 of the 160 spaces available were taken, the council said.

A county council meeting next week will look into setting up a public consultation into the plans.

Alternative options will also be considered, including amalgamation and capping numbers at nearby schools.

County council director of the Building Schools for the Future programme Sandra Curran said: "The popularity of the school has been worked on a lot by the school and the local authority in recent times.

"But, unfortunately, the number of pupils turning up just hasn't been good enough."